ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Gov. Susana Martinez bills herself as the transparency governor, promoting her mandate that all state employee salaries be posted publicly, touting her support for a bill that would require agencies and elected bodies to post notices of their meetings 72 hours in advance and promising quick responses to requests for public records.

But open government advocates question whether Martinez is walking her talk.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is within reach of the rarefied 13,000 mark, a level it hasn't seen since May 2008, four months before the financial system almost came apart. There's evidence that the rally has room to run.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's participation in a regional cap and trade program aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions became more unlikely Monday with a unanimous vote by state regulators.

The decision by the Environmental Improvement Board to repeal the cap and trade rules came in response to petitions filed by New Mexico's largest electric utilities, oil and gas developers and others who feared the rules would push businesses and jobs to neighboring states.

Gov. Susana Martinez, a critic of regulating carbon emissions at the state level, was pleased with the board's decision, spokesman Scott Darnell said.

Public comment on the Trinity Site lease agreement was overwhelmingly in favor of moving ahead on a lease agreement with North American Development Group. Proponents outnumbered opponents 10 to one.

Although a handful of people advocated for renegotiating in an attempt to achieve higher rents, using the site for something other than retail development or expressed fears of a Smith’s monopoly, it was impossible to turn a deaf ear to the numerous impassioned pleas from mothers who turned out for the joint meeting of the school board and county council.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a modest 2.8 percent in the final three months of last year, the fastest growth in 2011.

Americans spent more on cars and trucks, and companies built up their stockpiles. But growth in the October-December quarter — and all of 2011 — was held back by the biggest annual government spending cuts in four decades.

The Commerce Department says the economy grew just 1.7 percent last year, roughly half of the growth in 2010 and the worst since the recession.

Consumer spending rose in the final months of the year and businesses invested more in inventories, a sign they expect more demand.

For now, the Central Avenue Grill in Los Alamos will remain open under the ownership of Min Sung Park.
“The judge (Robert H. Jacobvitz) ruled yesterday the lease has not been properly terminated and it is still in effect,” Park’s attorney George M. Moore said in a telephone interview this morning.
“Now, we need to get the judge to approve the assumption of the lease and that will be the next step.
“We need to show the judge we will be able to cure the existing debts under the lease, pay the back rent within a reasonable period and honor the remaining part of the lease.”